Saturday, February 23, 2013

Levaquin is an extremely strong antibiotic. Levaquin is used to treat bacterial infections of the skin, sinuses,
kidneys, bladder, or prostate. It is also used to treat bacterial
infections that cause bronchitis or pneumonia, and to treat people who
have been exposed to anthrax or plague. Yes you read that right. When prescribed, it comes with a black box warning. This is the last step taken before a recall. I highly suggest anyone who is prescribed this medication read the entire black box warning! This blog entry is just to document my experience with this drug.

My doctor prescribed this medicine because of a sinus infection I had that was not going away. The first round of antibiotics I was on was not successful at helping get rid of the infection. My doctor told me to read the black box warning and not to exercise for 3 weeks. I am on a prescribed regimen of 1 pill a day for 10 days. I am guessing the 3 week limitation is to make sure the drug is out of my system completely. She also told me that one of the biggest side effects the drug has ruptured tendons. (explains the no exercise) And worse yet, some of the more severe side effects (such as tendonitis) can appear weeks or months after taking this medication.

I have been on the medication now for 7 days (only 3 more days left!). I was told to take it with food, so I take it with the same meal every day.

The most immediate thing I noticed was insomnia. After taking just the first pill I was no longer sleeping at night. And I'm still not. I am up until somewhere between 1 a.m. and 5 a.m. When I finally do fall away into slumber, it is not peaceful or deep. I am aware of all that goes on around me and wake up easily. Not a fun side effect, but when you are desperate to feel better, you suck it up. It's only for a few days, right? Just 10 days. How hard could that be?

It does make me a bit nauseous for a few hours after taking it. But nothing too terrible. That feeling does go away and it's not severe.

After 2 days of doses of the medicine I inquired the strangest bruise on my finger. A day later, another on foot. Both in the area of the knuckles/joints. I had done nothing but lie on the couch for those days. I am not sure how I got bruises. After being sick for a total of 5 weeks when I started the medicine, to say I was tired is an understatement. My body was exhausted. Thus the lying on the couch. The bruising seems strange, but whatever. I needed to get well.

In spite of no sleep, I finally started seeing my energy levels slowly return. I am still not myself and tire quickly (by mid afternoon most days), but at least I am able to use my mornings to get things done. I find this lack of energy to be because I was sick and not the medication. It just takes a while to build your strength and stamina up after being sick for so long. Otherwise I would tend to think that the lack of sleep would definitely be hindering me more and I would not be motivated to do anything at all. Perhaps the lack of sleep is why I tucker out by late afternoon, but at least I have my mornings back! Something I did not have prior to taking this medicine.

After a total of 3 days doses I noticed my joints began to hurt. First in my fingers, then followed by hips. Now my knees, ankles, arms, just about everything aches. My hands feel like that of an 80 year old with arthritis. They HURT!!! At this point I did consider calling my doctor, but I kept telling myself I only have a few more doses left and I NEED to get well. So yes, my fingers hurt typing this. It's taking me much longer than expected to type. But only 3 more days left of the medicine! And this medicine seems to be widely researched on the net. So I think it's important to make an account of my experience.

A quirky little side effect I also noticed was that for the first 3 hours after taking the medication, I would get ringing in my ears. It is not constant. But it comes and goes 2-3 times in those first 3 or so hours after taking the medicine. After that, it's gone. It's a nuisance, but that's about all. I have watched it very carefully. And never lasts more than a minute or so per episode.

I would get a little light headed when changing positions after starting the medication as well. For example, if I stood up after sitting I would get light headed. But that eventually went away.

I have also gotten use to the metallic taste in my mouth that has started since starting this medication. I can't wait for this to go away.

Another fun little diddy, is that as with any antibiotic, it can tend to upset your tummy a little bit. And you can't take anything for that. You also can't take NSAIDS, such as ibuprofen. Advil is my go to medicine for pain, so this is not fun with headaches and sore joints. Tylenol doesn't seem to help much. But you do what you got to do.

I only have a few more days/doses left of this medication. And I have to say there had been more side effects I have experienced with it than anything I have ever taken. However, as much as a nuisance as they have been (or continue to be), they haven't been worth getting off the medicine.

My sinus headaches had gotten to the point where they debilitated me prior to starting this medication. It was constant and never ending. The pressure in my head alone made me nauseous and dizzy. No medicine over the counter was helping, and the first antibiotic I took didn't help either. I couldn't breath through my nose at all. And the drainage into my throat chest had done a number on my body as well. My coughing was beginning to hurt my ribs. And my throat was so sore, swollen, and raw from the drainage, I had lost my voice. My husband had to take me to the doctor this second time around. I couldn't walk a few feet with out feeling like I was going to fall over from the dizziness. There was no way I could drive. I was so miserable tears fell from my eyes in spite of me trying to my hardest to keep them from doing so. Crying was only going to make my headache worse and that was the last thing I needed.

I guess what I am trying to say is that being sick for so long, and how bad it had gotten for me, was worse than all the side effects I have experienced with Levaquin. I have 3 kids, 2 dogs, a husband, and a home to care for. I need to be well! I am so sick of being sick!

Since starting the medication I can now say my headache that was constant is no longer that way. Yesterday and the day before I woke up headache free! And stayed that way until the afternoon! Today, as I type this, it's after 2 pm, and I still have NO headache! I can breathe through my nose again as well. All the liquids I expel (blowing my nose or coughing up) are now clear! No more blood or dark yellow/green/brown mixture. =) Army green mucus with blood in it is not fun to see or expel. Trust me.

I suggest anyone being prescribed this medication talk to their doctor and read the black box warning. It is a very serious medication. A friend's husband ended up in the hospital after taking this medication.

Here is just a sample of some of the black box warning for Levaquin:

Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an
allergic reaction while taking levofloxacin (the active ingredient
contained in Levaquin) hives; difficult breathing; swelling of your
face, lips, tongue, or throat.Stop using levofloxacin and call your doctor at once if you have a serious side effect such as:

severe skin reaction -- fever, sore throat, swelling in your face or
tongue, burning in your eyes, skin pain, followed by a red or purple
skin rash that spreads (especially in the face or upper body) and causes
blistering and peeling.

Less serious side effects of levofloxacin may include:

mild diarrhea, constipation, vomiting;

sleep problems (insomnia);

mild headache or dizziness; or

vaginal itching or discharge.

WebMD has summarized the black box warning pretty well with the following (this in no way excuses an individual from actaully reading the black box warning):

Common side effects of Levaquin Oral:

Head Pain

Less Severe

Infrequent side effects of Levaquin Oral:

Indigestion

Less Severe

Incomplete or Infrequent Bowel Movements

Less Severe

Drowsiness

Less Severe

Dizzy

Less Severe

Chronic Trouble Sleeping

Less Severe

Taste Problems

Less Severe

Trouble Breathing

Less Severe

Feel Like Throwing Up

Less Severe

Throwing Up

Less Severe

Diarrhea

Less Severe

Stomach Cramps

Less Severe

Nervous

Less Severe

Infection due to the Candida Fungus

Less Severe

Rare side effects of Levaquin Oral:

Yellowing of Skin or Eyes from Liver Problems

Severe

Any Disorder of the Brain

Severe

Nerve Function Blockage that Affects Normal Muscle Action

Severe

Pancreatitis

Severe

Abnormal High and or Low Blood Sugar

Severe

Very Rapid Heartbeat - Torsades de Pointes

Severe

Prolonged Q-T Interval on EKG

Severe

Abnormal Heart Rhythm

Severe

Vasculitis

Severe

Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura

Severe

Inflammation in Lungs caused by Allergic Reaction

Severe

Acute Liver Failure

Severe

Hepatitis caused by Drugs

Severe

Interstitial Nephritis

Severe

Acute Kidney Disease

Severe

Severe Bloody Diarrhea from Antibiotics

Severe

Drug or Chemical-Induced Sensitivity to Sunlight

Severe

Erythema Multiforme

Severe

Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis

Severe

Stevens-Johnson Syndrome

Severe

Redness of Skin

Severe

Inflammation of the Tendon

Severe

Rupture of a Tendon

Severe

Rupture of a Tendon in the Shoulder Area

Severe

Rupture of Tendons that Extend the Hand and Wrist

Severe

Rupture of Tendons that Flex the Hand and Wrist

Severe

Rupture of the Tendon in the Back of the Heel

Severe

Serious Muscle Damage that may Lead to Kidney Failure

Severe

Hallucination

Severe

Seizures

Severe

Rash

Severe

Abnormal Liver Function Tests

Severe

Life Threatening Allergic Reaction

Severe

Giant Hives

Severe

Allergic Reaction caused by a Drug

Severe

Allergic Reaction causing Serum Sickness

Severe

Inflammation of the Liver with Stoppage of Bile Flow

Severe

High Pressure Within the Skull

Severe

Low Blood Sugar

Severe

Hemolytic Anemia

Severe

Low Blood Counts due to Bone Marrow Failure

Severe

Decreased White Blood Cells

Severe

Confused

Severe

Having Thoughts of Suicide

Severe

Nightmares

Less Severe

Feeling Restless

Less Severe

Depression

Less Severe

Numbness, Tingling or Pain of Hands or Feet

Less Severe

Problems with Eyesight

Less Severe

Ringing in the Ears

Less Severe

Hearing Problem

Less Severe

Painful, Red or Swollen Tongue

Less Severe

Burning Stomach

Less Severe

Inflammation of the Lining of the Stomach and Intestines

Less Severe

Inflammation or Infection of Vagina

Less Severe

Itching

Less Severe

Hives

Less Severe

Joint Pain

Less Severe

Muscle Pain

Less Severe

Involuntary Quivering

Less Severe

Abnormal Manner of Walking

Less Severe

Loss of Appetite

Less Severe

Nosebleed

Less Severe

Gas

Less Severe

High Blood Sugar

Less Severe

The Appearance of Crystals in the Urine

Less Severe

Acquired Decrease of All Cells in the Blood

Less Severe

Anemia

Less Severe

Decreased Blood Platelets

Less Severe

Deficiency of Granulocytes a Type of White Blood Cell

Less Severe

Mental Disorder Resulting from Poisonous Agents

Less Severe

Anxious

Less Severe

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The black box warning was 4 pages long (2 pages front and back). This is a very serious medication and is not for everyone! Please talk about any concerns you have about this medication with your doctor!

I simply wanted to put my personal account of taking this medication out there for any individuals considering taking this medication. And also for my own records. Since serious side effects can occur up to months after taking the medication, I figured it was best to make an account of all my side effects while on the medication.

Good luck to anyone considering taking this medicine. It is not for the weak.